Tourists stabbed, robbed near Best Western in San Francisco

April 6, 2013 5:32:33 PM PDT

by Tomas Roman

SAN FRANCISCO --

A group of tourists was attacked Friday night just outside their hotel in San Francisco. Two men were stabbed and a woman was badly beaten. Police say they now have a key piece of evidence that could lead them to the attacker.

We spoke with some tourists at the Best Western Americania Hotel at 7th and Minna streets who say they have been unnerved by the stabbing.

Police, meantime, are optimistic they can close this case soon. They have security video of the attackers from the hotel and some tourists were able to jot down the license number of the blue SUV in which the men took off.

"There was blood all over the street, right in front of the elevator," Jennifer Rendron said.

Jennifer and her daughter Helena are visiting from North Carolina. They say they got the shock of their lives when they returned to the Best Western Friday night. Police were everywhere and had cordoned off the area. Paramedics were taking two stabbing victims to San Francisco General Hospital.

"We had seen him, you know, as he was getting on the? he had wounds all over. It was very very upsetting," Jennifer said.

Sergio Mendoza, the hotel's operations director, says the altercation between the two groups started at 11:50 p.m. Friday.

"It's a group of five people," he said. "One wanted to use the restroom and they all walked inside off the street."

After being refused access to the restroom, Mendoza says the three men and two women got into an argument with some tourists who were just checking in. Their bags can be seen still inside their minivan.

"The alteration started at the front desk and they kind of moved outside and that's where the incident happened," Mendoza said.

Outside, San Francisco police say one of the men in the group stabbed two of the male tourists and badly beat a woman who was with them. They robbed them of their smartphones and took off in a blue SUV.

Mendoza says the incident was captured on security camera video which he says the police now have.

"There was witnesses and evidence at the scene that was collected," Sgt. James Wilson said. "So, I'm optimistic that it will be solved in good order."

Jane Weil is with the Central Market Community Benefit District. She lives in the area and says this may be an isolated incident, but points to the need for more resources south of Market Street.

"It makes us cognizant of how much more we need more foot patrols and more police officers patrolling the neighborhood," Weil said.

The attackers are described as two Hispanic and one African American male in their 20s driving a dark blue Ford Explorer..

The two stabbing victims from Southern California are expected to recover and the woman with them was treated and released.